Allgood Software


Rules for Solitaire Games

Klondike Family
Fan Family
Tableau Clearing Family
Agnes Bernauer
Agnes Sorel
Alaska
American Toad
Busy Aces
Canfield
Corners
Congress
Czarina
Double Canfield
Double Klondike
East Haven
Forty Thieves
King Albert
Klondike
"Classic" Klondike
Maria Luisa
Russian Solitaire
Parliment
Thumb and Pouch
Whitehead
Yukon
Baker's Dozen
Beleaguered Castle
Bisley
Chessboard
Fan
Fortress
La Bella Lucie
Scotch Patience
Spanish Patience
Streets and Alleys
Trefoil
Block Ten
Doublets
Fourteen Out
Golf
Idiot's Delight
Monte Carlo
Simple Pairs
Free Cell Family
Spider Family
Miscellaneous
Baker's Game
Canister
Eight Off
Free Cell
Mt. Olympus
Seahaven Towers
Scorpion
Simple Simon
Spider
Spiderette
Will O The Wisp
Acquaintance
Auld Lang Syne
Calculation
Carpet
Osmosis
Sir Tommy

There are several different distinct kinds of solitaires, which I've grouped into different families. You'll find that the games within a family generally have the same goals, and play in similiar ways.
  • Klondike Family - generally trying to build foundations up by suit, building in a tableau with some face down cards, making luck a factor in winning the game. Often, there is a stock that can be run through to help with building. Klondike and Canfield are the most commonly known games of this family.

  • Free Cell Family - Building foundations up again, but this time there is no stock, all the cards are dealt into the tableau and are face up. The fact that the location of every card is known before play even begins gives strategy a large part in the winning of the game. Often Cells are offered as temporary holding places for cards, as in the flagship game, Free Cell. Most of the Free Cell variants can be won with proper planning.

  • Fan Family - The Fan family contains games that have a large number of tableau piles (fans), with just a few face up cards each. Like the Free Cell family, the fact that you can tell where every card is makes strategy more important than luck. In the Fan series, cards can generally only be moved one at a time, so it is easy to trap yourself by blocking lower cards with higher ones. Several variations allow you to redeal the Tableau, giving you a second or third chance to complete the foundations. The most commonly known game of the Fan family is La Bella Lucie.

  • Spider Family - Spider is one of the classic solitaire games, and as a result, many different variations have been invented. This family of games has no foundations, instead the goal is to clear cards from the tableau by forming sequences down in suit, from King to Ace. As these sequences are formed, they are automatically removed from play (and added to your score). The classic examples of this family are Spider and Will O the Wisp.

  • Tableau Clearing Family - These games are won by clearing out all cards in the Tableau, there are no foundations. Each have their own mechanisms, all described below. Several of these games are fairly well known, including Golf, Idiot's Delight, and Monte Carlo.

  • Miscellaneous - The rest. All of these games are unique, and I couldn't figure out where else to put them, heh.

Acquaintance -

Acquaintance is a variation of Auld Lang Syne, but allows 2 redeals, so is a lot easier to win. The 4 foundation piles need to be built up by value (no regard to suit) from ace to king. The top card of each of the 4 tableau piles may be used to play to foundations, but no intra-tableau movement is allowed. Spaces filled within the Tableau may not be filled with anything. Clicking on the stock will deal a card to each tableau pile. When the stock is exhausted, click the 'redeal' button to gather all the cards in the tableau, shuffle, and start dealing cards to tableau piles again.


Agnes Bernauer [Auto Play]

Agnes Bernauer is another Klondike variant, utilizing reserve piles instead of a discard pile. To win, build the 4 foundation piles up, in suit, from the first value dealt, wrapping as necessary, until there are 13 cards in each pile (very similiar to Canfield). The standard 7 pile Klondike tableau is used, with an additional 7 piles held as reserve. The Tableau piles are built down by alternating colour, wrapping from King to Ace where appropriate, and valid sequences may be moved between piles. Spaces in the tableau may be filled with cards of one less value than the card required to start a foundation pile. (i.e. if foundations start with an 8, only 7's may fill spaces in the tableau). The top pile of each reserve is available for play to the Tableau or foundations. Cards may not be added to reserve piles, except by clicking on the stock, which deals one new card to each.


Agnes Sorel [Auto Play]

Yet, another variant on Klondike. The four foundation piles must be built up, in suit, starting from the value of the card dealt to the first foundation, wrapping as necessary from King to Ace, until each pile has 13 cards. The standard 1-7 Klondike layout is used. Tableau piles may be built down in colour, and sequences may be moved if they are built down in the same colour. Clicking on the stock will deal one card to each of the tableau piles.

Note: Agnes Sorel and Agnes Bernauer used to both be called "Agnes", David Parlett is credited with making the distinction.


Alaska [Auto Play]

A very close relative of Yukon with much more interesting building rules. The four foundation piles are to be built up, from Ace to King, in suit. The tableau piles may be built, up or down by suit. That is, the 8 of clubs may be placed upon the 7 of clubs, or the 9 of clubs. Just like Yukon, blocks of cards in the Tableau may be moved without any regard to sequence, as long as the head card may be built on the target pile. (a group of any cards headed by the 7 of diamonds, may be placed on the exposed 6 (or 8) of diamonds).


American Toad [Auto Play]

Basically, a two deck version of Canfield, with a larger layout. The 8 foundation piles must be built up in suit, starting at the value of the card dealt to the first foundation, wrapping as necessary until each pile contains 13 cards. There are 8 tableau piles that may be built down by suit (wrapping as necessary), and legal sequences may be moved all at once between piles. The reserve pile contains 13 cards, the top of which is available for play to the foundations, or tableau. Spaces formed in the Tableau are filled automatically from the reserve pile, until it is exhausted. After which, any card may be used. The stock deals cards to the discard pile, 3 at a time, and may be re-used as many times as you like. (Note: this is very similiar to Double Canfield but with stricter tableau building rules.


Auld Lang Syne -

Auld Lang Syne is one of the simplist solitaires of them all. It is also one of the hardest to win, and is done so by almost all luck. To win all 4 of the foundations are to be built by value from Ace to King (suits don't matter). 4 piles form the tableau, the top card of each pile is available for play to a foundation, but cards may not be moved between tableau piles at all. The four aces are removed at the start of the game and are used to start the 4 foundations. Clicking on the stock deals a card to each of the 4 tableau piles, hopefully creating new plays to the foundations. Play continues like this until the stock is exhausted. For an easier game to win, try Acquaintance which is similiar, but allows for two redeals.


Baker's Dozen [Auto Play]

In this game, all the cards in this game are face up at the start, making it largely a matter of skill to get all the cards where they need to be. 13 piles (a baker's dozen, what a coincidence!) form the tableau and start with 4 cards (facing up) each. Before play, Kings are automatically moved to the bottom of their piles. The goal is to move all cards to the 4 foundations which are built up by suit, from Ace to King. Cards may be moved one at a time between tableau piles, building down by value, with no regard to suit. Spaces in the Tableau may not be filled with anything.


Baker's Game [Auto Play]

Very similar to Free Cell, except that piles in the tableau are be built down by suit, and not by alternating colour, making the game a lot tougher to win. The 4 Foundations are built up by suit, from Ace to King. Four reserve piles, "Cells", are available to hold any single card each. 8 tableau piles are to be built down by suit, and cards may be moved as blocks within the tableau, only if there are enough free cells to move them individually. (a slightly easier version of this game is Seahaven Towers which offers more tableau piles to work with.


Beleaguered Castle -

Grouped with the fan family, even though there are less fans available than any of its siblings. The goal is to build the four foundation piles up from Ace to King, in suit. Eight piles form the tableau, each starting with 6 cards. Tableau piles may be built down by value, with no regard to suit, but cards may only be moved one at a time. Spaces that form in the Tableau may be filled with any card.


Bisley [Auto Play]

A member of the Fan family of games, with a twist on building foundations that makes the game interesting. The goal is to get all 52 cards into the 8 foundation piles. 4 of the foundations build up by suit, from Ace. The other 4 build down from King. It does not matter where each pile ends, as long as all the cards end up in the foundations. The 12 tableau piles may be built up, or down in sequence, by suit. Spaces are not filled at all. At the start of the game, the aces are placed on their foundations, and the remaining 48 cards are dealt evenly into the Tableau. This is a very interesting strategy game, as the foundations will give you more interesting building possiblities.


Block Ten -

A pair matching game, that combines a simple layout with some more convoluted matching rules. The cards in the nine tableau piles may be removed as pairs with the following rules. Cards lower than 10 in value can be matched up with eachother if their sum is equal to 10. i.e., an ace+9 pair out, 2/8, 3/7, 4/6, 5/5. Tens cannot be matched, and remain stuck in the tableau. Cards higher than 10 are just paired off with cards of the same rank, J/J, Q/Q and K/K. Spaces formed by pair matching in the Tableau are filled automatically from the stock. (Simple Pairs shares the same layout as Block Ten, but with a much simple rule for removing cards).


Busy Aces [Auto Play]

To win this two deck game, build the 8 foundation piles from Ace to King, in suit. Twelve piles form the tableau, which can be built down in suit, moving one card at a time. Each pile starts with a single card. Spaces may be filled with a card from anywhere. Cards are dealt one at a time from the stock to the discard by clicking. The top card of the discard pile is available for play to anywhere.


Calculation (Broken Intervals) [Auto Play]

Calculation is a very tough game to win. The object is to move all cards to the foundations, which build up by value in various increments (no regard to suit). All foundations wrap around as necessary until they end with a king (each pile will end up with 13 cards). The first foundation goes up by ones, as in A2345678910JQK, the second builds by 2s (wrapping when necessary), as 246810QA3579JK, the third by threes, as 369Q258JA4710K, the fourth by fours, as 48Q37J2610A59K. At the start of the game, the first card of each foundation is placed there for you. Cards are taken from the stock one by one, and placed on one of four tableau piles, or directly to a foundation. Once a card is placed into the Tableau, it may only be moved to a foundation, no intra-tableau movement is allowed. Only the top card of each tableau pile is available at given time. (so be careful what you cover with cards).


Canfield (Demon Patience) [Auto Play]

Very similar to Klondike in the behaivour of the tableau piles, foundation, stock and discard piles. The tableau is dealt as four piles, one card to each. A reserve pile is added to the game (sometimes known as the "Demon Reserve") which contains 13 cards, of which the top is available for play. Spaces formed in the tableau are automatically filled from the reserve until it is exhausted, at which time they can be filled from the deck (with no value limitations). One notable exception to building is that both foundations and tableau piles can be wrapped (aces placed on kings on the foundation, and vice versa on the tableau). A card is dealt to the first foundation, dictating the starting card for all of the other foundations. (Aces being played on kings to form a cycle).


Canister [Auto Play]

Similar to popular game 'Free Cell', but without the benefit of the 'cells'. All the cards are dealt face up into 8 tableau piles. The object is to build up all four foundations from Ace to King by suit. Tableau piles are built down by value, with no regard for suit, or colour. Cards and sequences may be moved in between piles, as long as the topmost card is legal to be played there. Spaces formed in the tableau may be filled with any card or sequence.


Carpet [Auto Play]

One of the easiest solitaires to play and win. The four foundation piles must be built up, by suit, from ace to king. The 20 reserve piles are used to play to the foundations, but there is no building to be done on them. Spaces in the reserve are filled automatically from the discard pile, or from the stock. Deal a card from the stock to the discard, one at a time, by clicking on it. No redeals. (With auto play on, this game just a matter of clicking on the stock every now and then).


Chessboard -

The rules in Chessboard are exactly the same as Fortress, but it is slightly easier as the foundations can be started with any card (your choice), not necessarily an ace. To win, build the four foundation piles up from the first value played, in suit, until there are 13 cards in each pile. Note, the first card you play to a foundation determines the starting value for all foundations. There are ten piles in the Tableau, and they can be built up or down, by suit. Cards may only be moved one at a time. Spaces that form in the Tableau may be filled with any card.


Congress [Auto Play]

A two deck, game, similiar to Forty Thieves. To win, get all the cards to one of the 8 foundation piles (center), which build up in suit, from ace to king. The 8 tableau piles can be built down, regardless of suit, but only one card may be moved at a time. Spaces are filled automatically from the discard pile. Deal one card from the stock to the discard by clicking on it. No redeals.


Corners (Four Seasons) [Auto Play]

One of my favourite games. Requires a little thought and foresight to play successfully. The playing field is a grid of 3 cards by 3. The corners are the foundations, and must be played up by suit (wrapping King to Ace as necessary). A card is dealt to the first foundation, and all other foundations must be started with a card of the same value as this one. The other five piles form the tableau, and are built down by value with no regard to suit or colour. Only one card at a time may be moved from any pile. Both foundations and tableau wrap when necessary (Aces played on Kings on foundations, and vice versa on tableau). Cards are dealt one by one from the stock to the discard, the top card of both is available for


Czarina [Auto Play]

Extremely similar to Corners, but slightly more difficult to win. The playing field is a grid of 3x3 cards. The corners are the foundations, and must be built up in suit (wrapping when necessary) from the value of the card dealt to the first foundation. (i.e. if a four is dealt to the first foundation, all foundations must start with a four, and build up, wrapping from king to ace, up to three). The other five piles from the tableau, which may be built down by value, but only one card at a time. Spaces formed in the tableau, are filled automatically from the stock (this is the main difference from Corners). Cards are dealt from the stock to the discard one at a time by clicking.


Double Canfield [Auto Play]

Basically, a version of Canfield, but played with two decks, and a slightly larger layout. Just like Double Klondike, this variation is easier than the core game. The 8 foundation piles must be built up in suit, starting at the value of the card dealt to the first foundation. The 5 tableau piles may be built down by alternating colour, and legal sequences may be moved all at once between piles. The ever-present reserve pile still contains 13 cards, the top of which is available for play to the foundations, or tableau. Spaces formed in the Tableau are filled automatically from the reserve pile, until it is exhausted. After which, any card may be used. The stock deals cards to the discard pile, 3 at a time, and may be re-used as many times as you like.


Double Klondike [Kings Only] [Auto Play]

Take a good game, double the number of cards in it, and it will be twice as good! Double Klondike is just like Klondike, but is played with two decks of cards. There are nine tableau piles, in which cards may be built down by alternate colour, and cards in sequence may be moved between tableau piles. Eight foundations must be built up from Ace to King, in suit. The stock deals three cards at a time to the discard pile, by clicking on it. When the stock is empty, the discard is picked up and re-used as the stock (an unlimited amount of times, click on the stock to do this).


Doublets (Double Trouble) -

Similar to Monte Carlo, the game is won if the Tableau is completely cleared. Cards are removed from the game by pairing them up with another of the same rank. 12 piles of four face down cards form the Tableau, the top card of each is turned face up, and is available for play at any time. Left over cards from the deal form the stock, which is used automatically to fill gaps in the Tableau as they form. To remove a pair, drag one member onto its mate, and both cards will be moved to the waste pile.


East Haven [Auto Play]

The four foundation piles, must be built up in suit, from Ace to King, in order to win this Klondike variant. 7 piles form the tableau, each initially starting with three cards, the top one always face up and available for play. Piles in the Tableau may be built down in sequence by alternating colour (black 10 on a red Jack, for example). Spaces in the tableau may be filled with any card or legal sequence of cards. Instead of the usual discard pile, clicking on the stock deals one card to each tableau pile, giving this game a strong luck factor, as a deal can make the game or ruin it.


Eight Off [Kings Only] [Auto Play]

Probably the easiest Free Cell variant of them all, a good place to start if you are new to this family. Cards in the 8 tableau piles must be built down in suit, but you have 8 cells to help you out. Each "cell" can hold any card, but only one at a time. The 4 foundation piles must be built up from Ace to King, as usual. (this is basically a version of Baker's Game, with an additional 4 cells). Spaces in the tableau may be filled with a king or king headed sequence.


Fan [Kings Only] [Auto Play]

The object of Fan, is to build the four foundation piles up in suit, from Ace to King. The tableau consists of 18 fans, each initially containing 3 each (except for the last, with just 1 card). Cards may be moved between fans one at a time, building down in suit. Spaces formed in the tableau may be filled with only a King. Unlike some of the fan variants, no redeals are allowed in this game.


Fortress -

A close sibling of Beleagured Castle, but with a more interesting tableau building scheme. To win, build the four foundation piles up from Ace to King. There are ten piles in the Tableau, and they can be built up or down, by suit. Cards may only be moved one at a time. Spaces that form in the Tableau may be filled with any card.


Forty Thieves (Big Forty, Napolean at St. Helena, Le Cadran) [Auto Play]

Played with 2 decks of cards, Forty Thieves is quite difficult to win. To win, all eight foundation piles all need to be built up in suit from Ace to King. 10 piles, each starting with 4 face up cards forms the tableau, which may be built down in suit. Cards may be moved one at a time, only. Spaces formed in the Tableau may be filled with any card. Cards from the stock are dealt to the discard pile, one at a time, with no redeals.


Fourteen Out (Fourteens) -

Another card matching game. In this, pairs of cards may be removed if their sum is equal to 14. (Kings count as 13, Queens as 12, Jacks as 11). For example, a pair of 8 and 6 would be eligible for removal. All the cards are dealt face up into the 12 tableau piles. Since all cards can be seen, it is largely a matter of skill to win. To remove a pair, drag one card onto its mate, both cards will be moved to the waste pile.


Free Cell [Auto Play]

Chances are good that you already know how to play this, it is one of the most popular computer solitaire games. It became famous after being distributed with Windows 95, a long time ago. Four foundations are to be built up from Ace to King by suit. Eight tableau piles, into which all the cards are dealt, face up. (Seven cards each in the first four piles, six in the other four). Cards in the tableau can be built down by alternating colour. In addition, four 'cells', (in the upper left, red outlines) are available, each of which can hold any single card. Cards may be moved onto and off cells with the restriction that only one card is allowed in a cell at a time. Cards may be moved as blocks within the tableau, but only if there are enough free cells available to move then one at a time. (moving as a block is just a shortcut for moving them in and out of cells). For example, if all four cells are available, you can still only move a block of five cards between piles. If only one cell is available, only sets of two may be moved at a time. Spaces in the Tableau may be filled with any card, or block of cards.


Golf -

The goal of this game is to clear the tableau completely. The tableau consists of seven face up piles with five cards on each. The topmost card is always available for play. Cards are played from the tableau to the discard pile by value, suit is irrelevant in this game. A card can be played to the discard pile if it is one value higher, or one lower than the card at the top of the discard pile. That is, if a 6 is showing at the top of the discard pile, you may play either a 5 or a 7 onto it from the Tableau. There are two exceptions, only a 2 can be played on an Ace, and nothing can be played on a king at all. When all plays are exhausted, click on the stock, and a card from it will be played onto the discard pile. Play then continues until the stock is exhausted. (no redeals of the stock are allowed).


Idiot's Delight (Aces Up, Firing Squad, Aces High, Four Aces, Drivel) -

If you are looking for a fairly quick game of solitaire, this is a good bet. The goal of Idiot's Delight is to clear the tableau as much as possible, a win will see the piles empty except for the four aces. At the start of play, four cards are dealt from the stock, one onto each pile. Tableau cards can be removed as follows: If the top card of any tableau pile has the same suit as the top card of any other tableau pile the card with the lower value can me moved to the discard pile. (Drag the desired card to the discard pile and drop it) Aces are high, and can't be moved to the discard pile by any means. If spaces open up in the tableau, the top card of any other pile may be placed there. When all plays are finished, click on the stock, and another four cards are dealt, one onto each pile. Play continues in this fashion, until the stock is exhausted, and no more moves are possible.

As it is impossible to move Aces to the waste pile, the winning score is 48, instead of the usual 52.


King Albert [Auto Play]

The goal in this Klondike-like game, is to build the foundations up from Ace to King, in suit. Nine tableau piles are used, started in a Klondike-style fashion (1 card in the first, 2 in the second, etc...), which may be built down by alternate colour. Only one card at a time may be moved between tableau piles. As spaces in the tableau form, they may be filled with any card. At the bottom of the screen, 7 cards are held in reserve, available for play at any time, onto foundations or into the tableau. No building may occur on these piles, and spaces must remain empty.


Klondike (Chinaman, Fascination, Triangle) [Kings Only] [Auto Play]

The metric of Solitaire. It's the one most widely known and almost all solitaire games include this variation. The goal is to move all the cards to the four foundations, one for each suit. Foundations are started with Aces, and build up to King by suit. Seven piles form the tableau, one card is dealt to the first pile, each successive pile receiving one more than the previous. Cards can be moved from these piles individually or by sequence, and are built down in value, by alternating colour (either red 6 can be placed on a black 7). To move a sequence, grab the top card of the sequence and move it to the desired pile. (sequences can be broken up). Spaces in the tableau can only be filled with Kings (or King topped sequences, of course).

The stock is dealt to the discard three cards at a time (click on the stock to deal three cards). The top card of the discard can be played to the Tableau or a foundation. Once the stock is exhausted, the discard is taken up as the stock and redealt. (no shuffling is allowed).


"Classic" Klondike (Reno) [Kings Only] [Auto Play]

In strict Klondike rules, the stock is dealt one card at a time, but no redeals are allowed. This version of the game implements those rules, and is extremely tough to win.


La Bella Lucie [Auto Play]

A variant of Fan. The object is to build the four foundations, up in suit, from Ace to King. The deck is dealt out into 18 fans of cards, forming the tableau. All fans contain three, except the last with one only. Tableau piles can be built down in suit, but cards may only be moved one at a time. Spaces formed in the tableau may not be filled with anything at all. Two redeals are allowed, when all plays are exhausted, click the redeal button, and the fans will be gathered, shuffled, and redealt. (the number redeals left is indicated on the button itself). Trefoil is very similar to La Bella Lucie, but the foundations are all started with Aces at the outset, making it a bit easier to win.


Maria Luisa [Auto Play]

Played with 2 decks of cards, Maria Luisa is fairly tough to win. To win, all eight foundation piles all need to be built up in suit from Ace to King. 9 piles, each starting with 4 face up cards forms the tableau, which may be built down by alternate colour. Cards may be moved one at a time, only. Spaces formed in the Tableau may be filled with any card. Cards from the stock are dealt to the discard pile, one at a time, with no redeals.


Mt. Olympus [Auto Play]

A 2 pack solitaire with a face up layout, and a whole bunch of foundations. While not a difficult game to understand, at all, it is tough to keep track of all the piles and how they build. To win, all 16 foundation piles must be built to completion, in suit, by twos. 8 of the piles start with an Ace, the other 8 start with a 2. Ace piles are built up by twos, as in A3579JK, the Two piles are built up as 246810Q. A successful game will end up with kings or queens at the top of each foundation. To help, there are 9 tableau piles, each of which may be built down in suit, by 2s. (7 on a 9, but not on an 8). Spaces formed in the Tableau are filled automatically from the stock. Clicking on the stock will deal a single card onto each Tableau pile.


Monte Carlo -

Monte Carlo is my favourite pair matching game. A grid of 25 cards is laid out, and pairs (same rank, not suit) of cards can be removed if they are adjacent to each other (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally). To do this, drag one card onto its pair, and both cards will be moved to the waste pile. When all available pairs are removed, cards are shifted left and up to condense the remaining cards, and spaces are filled from the stock. (Click on the stock, to condense, and fill - even when the stock is empty). The game is won if all cards are paired up within the tableau, and end up in the waste pile.


Osmosis (Treasure Trove) -

Osmosis is a very unique solitaire, foundation piles are built in a way entirely different from any game I've previously seen. Instead of being built up or down with regards to value, cards may be placed on a foundation only if a card with the same value has already been played onto the foundation pile directly above it. At the start of the game, a card is dealt to the first foundation, this value determines the value that must be used to start the remaining foundations. For the first foundation, any card whose suit matches the foundation suit may be added to the pile. For other foundations, they must be started with a card that matches the value of the first card on the first foundation. After that, cards that match that card's suit may be placed on a foundation, but only if that value is represented in the next higher foundation. In this way, card values work their way through the four foundations, hence the name "Osmosis". Four piles of four cards act as reserve piles. The remaning cards form the stock, and may be dealt one by one to the discard pile, the top card of which is available for play. Unlimited redeals are permitted.


Parliment [Auto Play]

A two deck, game, similiar to Forty Thieves. To win, get all the cards to one of the 8 foundation piles (center), which build up in suit, from ace to king. The 8 tableau piles can be built down, regardless of suit, but only one card may be moved at a time. Spaces are filled automatically from the discard pile. Deal one card from the stock to the discard by clicking on it. No redeals. This game is just like Congress, but the aces are not initially placed, making it tougher to win.


Russian Solitaire [Auto Play]

A variation of Klondike, and very similar to Yukon. The goal is to build the foundations, up by suit, from Ace to King. Tableau piles can be built down by suit (this is different from Yukon). The layout is similar to Klondike, but instead of a stock and discard, all remaining cards are dealt face up into the tableau piles, four cards to each of the piles except the first. Blocks of cards in the tableau may be moved even if they do not form a valid sequence. (this is the twist that the game is known for) Spaces formed in the tableau, may be filled only with kings.


Scorpion -

The object of this game is to remove all the cards from the tableau, by building groups of cards from King down to Ace in suit. (when sequences of this type are formed, they are removed from the tableau automatically, very much like Spider). The 7 Tableau piles may be built down in suit, but non-continuous sequences may be moved (similar to Yukon). That is, if a two of clubs is underneath three unrelated cards, it may still be moved onto an exposed three of clubs. The game is started with 7 cards in each of the tableau piles, the first 4 with four face down cards, the last 3 with all cards face up. The three undealt cards form the stock, which is dealt into the first three piles by clicking on it (obviously, this can only be done once).


Scotch Patience [Auto Play]

To win this game, get all the cards to the four foundations, which are built up in value by alternate colour. (red 2 on a black ace, for example). Cards in the tableau may be built down, without regard to suit, but only one card at a time may be moved. Spaces are not filled.


Seahaven Towers (Sea Towers) [Auto Play]

A variation of Free Cell that has been made popular with the Unix community due to the freeware 'seahaven' program by Terry Weissman. It was also available as a shareware Macintosh game, ages ago. The object of the game, is to build the 4 foundations up in suit from Ace to King. To help, there are 10 Tableau piles, can be built down by suit, and 4 Cells, each able to hold any single card. Cards may be moved singly, or in blocks within the Tableau if there are enough free cells so that the cards could have been moved individually. (i.e. if there are 3 free cells, you can move blocks of 4 cards, only). At the start of the game, each tableau has 5 cards, and 2 of the cells contain a card, the other 2 are empty.


Simple Pairs -

Simple pairs is probably the easiest of the pair removing games. The layout consists of 9 tableau piles, in which any card may be matched (and removed) with a card of equal rank. As spaces from in the Tableau, they are automatically filled from the stock. For a more interesting game, try Block Ten which shares the same layout, but has more complex matching rules.


Sir Tommy [Auto Play]

Sir Tommy is rumoured to be the first patience style game ever invented. It is very similar to Calculation, but a lot easier to play and understand, as all foundations build by increments of one (Instead of Calculation, where foundations are built by differing increments). The object is to move all the cards to the four foundations, which are built up by value, from Ace to King (no regard to suit). The four aces are removed and are used to start the foundations. The top card of the stock is available for play at all times, either to a foundation or to a pile in the Tableau. Any card may be placed on any Tableau, but once there, may only be moved to a foundation (no moving between Tableau piles is allowed).


Spanish Patience [Auto Play]

Try to move all the cards to the four foundations, which are built up by suit. The 13 tableau piles may be built down without regard to suit, but only one card at a time may be moved. Spaces may be filled with any card.


Spider -

Often named one of the "classic" solitaires, the goal of this game is to clear all of the cards from the tableau, by forming sequences down from King to Ace, in suit. There are 10 tableau piles, which may be built down without regard to suit. Sequences of cards may be moved between tableau piles, but only if they are down in value, and of the same suit. Spaces formed in the tableau may be filled by any card, or sequence. The first four piles each start with six cards, the remaining five start with five. The remaining cards form the stock. When all plays are exhausted, click on the stock to deal a single card to each of the tableau piles. Whenever a sequence from King to Ace, down in suit, is formed, it is automatically taken out of play, and scored for you.


Spiderette -

The goal of Spiderette is to clear the Tableau, by making sequences from King down to Ace, in suit. Once a sequence like this is formed, it is automatically moved to the waste pile. 7 piles form the tableau, and they may be built down in value with no regard to suit. (clearly, down is suit is the best way to go if you have a choice). Spaces formed in the Tableau may be filled with any card, or valid group of cards. At the start of the game, one card is dealt to to the first pile, 2 to the second, etc... just like in Klondike which we all know and love. When all plays are exhausted, click on the stock to deal a single card to each Tableau pile. Spiderette is very similiar to Will O the Wisp, but with a different pile layout.


Streets and Alleys -

The goal of this game is to build the four foundation piles up from Ace to King, in suit. Eight piles form the tableau, each starting with 6 or 7 cards. Tableau piles may be built down by value, with no regard to suit, but cards may only be moved one at a time. Spaces that form in the Tableau may be filled with any card. This is the same as Beleagured Castle but with the aces starting in the Tableau (therefore slightly tougher).


Thumb and Pouch [Auto Play]

A variation of the well known Klondike. The game is won when the 4 foundation piles, are built up, in suit, from Ace to King. The standard 1-7 klondike layout is used to fill the initial Tableau piles. Cards in the Tableau may be built down in any suit but the same. (i.e. hearts,spades or diamonds may be put on a clubs card). Legal sequences down in any suit but the same, may be moved within tableau piles. Clicking on the stock deals cards, one at a time, to the discard pile. No redeals.


Trefoil (Double Trouble) [Auto Play]

A variant of Fan, and very similar to La Bella Lucie. The object is to build the four foundations, up in suit, from Ace to King. At the start of the game, the Aces are removed, and placed on the foundations. The deck is dealt out into 16 fans of cards, forming the tableau, all fans starting with 16 cards. Tableau piles can be built down in suit, but cards may only be moved one at a time. Spaces formed in the tableau may not be filled with anything at all. Two redeals are allowed, when all plays are exhausted, click the redeal button, and the fans will be gathered, shuffled, and redealt. (the number redeals left is indicated on the button itself). Basically, Trefoil is exactly the same as La Bella Lucie with the four aces initially placed, making it somewhat easier.


Whitehead [Auto Play]

Whitehead is a Klondike variant, but allows strategy to take a larger role. The 4 foundation piles must be built up from Ace to King, in suit. The standard 1-7 Klondike tableau is used, with all cards facing up. Tableau piles may be build down by color (black cards on black), and sequences may be moved within the tableau only if they are built down in suit. (this is similar to Spider). Clicking on the stock will deal a single card to the discard pile. No redeals.


Will O The Wisp -

The goal of this game is to clear the Tableau, by making sequences from King, down to Ace, in suit. Seven tableau piles are provided, with four cards in each (three face down). Cards or blocks of cards maybe be moved between piles to form sequences going down in value, with no regard to suit (though it is advisable to build them in suit wherever possible). Spaces formed in the Tableau may be filled with any available card. When all plays in the tableau are exhausted, the stock is used to deal a single card onto each tableau pile (click on the stock to do this), and card building continues. Play continues in this fashion until the stock is depleted and there are no more moves within the Tableau (or no more cards). When a sequence from King down to Ace is formed, in suit, it is automatically moved to the waste pile and out of play. The goal is to remove all four sequences this way.


Simple Simon -

To win this game, group cards in the tableau, in ace to king sequences of the same suit. Once a sequence is formed, it is automatically removed from the game. Clear the entire tableau to win. Cards in the tableau may be built down in value without regard to suit, but only groups of cards built down in suit may be moved as a sequence. All cards are face up at the start of the game, giving you a great chance to use skill to win.


Yukon [Auto Play]

A variation of Klondike. The goal is to build the foundations, up by suit, from Ace to King. Tableau piles can be built down by alternating colour. The layout is similar to Klondike, but instead of a stock and discard piles, all remaining cards are dealt face up into the tableau piles, four cards to each of the piles except the first. Blocks of cards in the tableau may be moved even if they do not form a valid sequence. (this is the twist that the game is known for) That is, if a black 5 is face up, you can move it to an exposed red six even if the five has cards above it that are not in sequence. Spaces formed in the tableau, may be filled only with kings. If you find Yukon too easy, Russian Solitaire might be perfect for you.



Special Features

Poor Man's Solitaire includes many features, some of which are only available to some games: